1909 Febr.1, transfer of the business to MAX BORSINGER, Hotel Blume, including stable,barn,garden,ice cellar, the vineyards at the Scharten mountain and the one at the Wettinger-mountain for the sum of 250 000 Swiss Francs. Max died in 1928 and his wife Berta, born Walser, kept the hotel going with the help of Maria, her only daugher. After her mothers death she had a manager but sold the Blume in 1972.

20th GENERATION

This Painting, "The boy with the grape" belonged to Dr. Caspar Borsinger M.D. in Tafers and after his death was given by Rosly , his sister, to me. When I moved to the USA I gave it to my brother Fredy and after his death it was given to the mussum.

“BLUME” KARL JOSEPH, born Febr.1,1821 and died Dec. 10,1852 son of Kaspar Joseph Anton Niklaus and Carolina Haessig. He was a very much liked young man, and only 20 years of age, he had to take over the Blume after his fathers death, on March 23,1841. He got married the same year to the 8 years older Marria Josepha Heer, who actually was his employee while she ran the business at the Red Shield. In December1852 the couple became ill with Typhoid Fever. Karl Joseph died and his wife recuperated and delivered in March of the next year her fourth child, Cark Theodor (my grandfather). We have a portrait of Carl -Joseph “The boy with the grape”, inscribed on the back :Carl-Joseph Borsinger, born Febr.1,1821,painted in the ----1825, the artist is unknown. I first became familiar with the painting when I visited Dr. Caspar Borsinger M.D. in Tafers Canton Fribourg in Switzerland where he practiced medicine. This was during my Pre-Med studies in nearby Fribourg. After Caspar’s death, his sister, aunt Rosli Borsinger received it as legal heir and gave it to me in order to keep it in the Borsinger family. When I left Switzerland I gave it to my brother Fredy.

Karl’s mother, Carolina Haessig, was 39 years old when he was born. His godfather was Rev. Probst Hauser of Zurzach. Goodmother, Anna Schnebli.Marriage Oct.11,1841 to Josephine Heer ,born 3/7/1813. Burried,Dec,12,1852 at Baden.

Memoirs of Franz Xaver Borsinger.

I had the great fortune to have lovable parents, who’s image I tried to imitate. With help of God I hoped my children would grow up with the same values. My father Karl
Joseph was the firstborn of a second marriage of Mr. Caspar Borsinger owner of the Hotel Blume in Baden. He enjoyed a happy youth with his brother Joseph and cousin Cecilia Widmer, who loved him like a sister and showed a true friendship which lasted until his early death and continued with his children and grandchildren.

After my father finished school in Baden, he attended the college of the Jesuits in Fribourg and there with the aid of the reverend fathers he matured intellectually and grew up to be a goodhearted soul. Unfortunately the unexpected death of his father called him back to his parents house before he finished his education. Music and song was his life, he was talented and had by nature a sociable manner. The grandparents owned other property in the town, the house of the Red Shield in which a tenant, Mr. Joseph Heer, worked as the innkeeper. His sister Josephine, a very talented young women, was keeping house. Our father visited frequently and the two fell in love in spite of the difference in age (father 19,mother 28). They married and found sincere love. The newly weds took over the running of the Blume. During the summer, they ran the hotel while during the winter my father worked as a “Wachsposier” (Candle maker) which he was trained for. At that time Hotel owners often did common labor jobs during the winter months, grandfather was a linen weaver, Mr. Nieriker at the Limmathof a cooper smith, Mr. Jeuch former innkeeper oft he Sun a carpenter ,Mr. Meier Attenhofer of the Raben (later Schweizerhof) is now an artist (painter). Lina was their first child and was fathers darling and Joseph who followed was his pride. He however died in his first year of life. A year later Franz was born and then the “Sonderbundkrieg”(war between the States) broke out in 1817 which took father away from his home for 13 weeks.

What a happy reunion after all the dangers, how thankful they were for our Lords graceful protection. Our parents were truly devoted to each other in action and words, and they were blessed with success in their business. Another baby boy was born and was given the name of his grandfather, Caspar. I still keep vividly in my memory some moments of our cheerful family life and I remember in detail how our father put us on top of his piano to sing to us little songs and how he tried to bring us pleasure wherever he could. But all the pleasures in live could not last, already sickness and death was waiting. In full health and in a man’s full vigor one evening in November my father went to a musical rehearsal, he did not feel well on his return, went to bed never to leave it again. A terrific nerve fever pierced his body, soon disturbing his mind, then again fully conscious he faced his upset wife and his underage children. Finally after a three week terrific fight he went to his eternal rest and the town mourned the well liked, philanthropic man who passed away in the prime of his life. My mother was crushed but in her difficult moments it was her faith that gave her strength, and four month later she gave birth to a baby boy, Carl (my grandfather). With the help of cousin Mrs. Widmer she tried to conduct our education according to the will and wishes of the departed. She combined strictness with a sincere and motherly love. Her life from now on was devoted entirely to our wellbeing and the memory of our beloved father remained vivid in our family.And the years passed unnoticed until the marriage of our dear sister . This brought a new hardship to our mother. The separation was difficult because up to now, our dear Lina stood by here as a very important support.

MARIA -JOSEPHA, (4/7/1813-8/24/1877) originated from a family Heer in Klingnaunear Doettingen (Ct. Aargau).She helped her brother Joseph in the running of the Hotel Red Shield, where she met Kaspar Borsinger in 1800,got married and they took over the Blume. During her 5th pregnancy she became ill with typhoid fever. Kaspar died but she recuperated and 4 month later gave birth to my grandfather. I was told that later on she became an alcoholic, was treated for “Wassersucht”(decompensated heart) and died at 64 years of age. Brothers: Leo Newspaper editor in Biel, died of Ca of the brain. He was the godfather of Elisabeth Borsinger(married to Ackermann of Ennerberg), another brother was Heer Wanger who had a bedding store in Baden who died at 58 of Ca of the stomach. He had 2 daughters, Phany died of meningitis, Martha became the wife of Dr. Perula, and they were my father’s godparents. Another brother had a carpenter business in Klingnau, another brother had a drygoods store in Baden and his daughter was my grandmathere’s (Elisabeth Borsinger-Hanauer) bridesmaid. Another brother, Joseph ran the Red Shield and one sister was Mrs. Dr. Jenny-Heer in Altstaetten (Ct. St. Gallen) who died of Ca of the breast.

After her son, Franz Xaver Kaspar took over the Blume on Jan.9, 1871 she moved into an apartment in the town at Mr. Posamenter-Falk and later on to the Amtmann’s house, where for month she was housebound and died on Aug.24, 1877.

The portrait with her and her two children Lina and Franz Xaver was hanging above the stairway at the Blume and is now in the “Borsingerstube” at the museum.